Members of the Keda Local Action Group Participated in a Study Visit to Austria

On 6-10 May 2019, a study visit to Austria was organized for the Keda Local Action Group (LAG) members. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of Ajara A/R and Deputy Mayor of Keda Municipality also took part in the visit. The study tour was supported by the EU ENPARD program and was organized by the Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning (ÖIR) in partnership with CENN.The aim of the visit was to learn more about LEADER principals, the LAG role in the development of the Local Development Strategies and the section process of local development sub-projects. In the framework of the visit, participants held meetings with representatives of the Austrian Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism, Austrian Development Agency and the Ambassador of Georgia to Austria. Participants also visited two LEADER regions and met with respective LEADER managers and LAG representatives.

During the visit to the Southern Burgenland LEADER region and meetings with local LAGs, participants visited the women’s social enterprise “IDUNA,” the Zickentaler Moorochse protected territory in order to visit the local tourist infrastructure and learn about pasture management. Also, meetings concerning working with the youth to mainstream vocational trainings were held at the Vocational Training Institute (Berufsförderungsinstitut). Afterward, the visit continued to another LEADER region, Vulkanland, to meet the local LAG and mayor. Participants learned about the locally supported production of ham, furniture, and pumpkin seed oil, as well as visited the recreational facility, Holiday on Farm. In the framework of the study tour, participants had the opportunity to meet with the private sector and visited the Zotter chocolate factory.

Participants were especially interested in the process of project evaluation, the selection process and the projects related to creating regional value chains.

The EU-supported ENPARD project is implemented by CENN in partnership with the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), Institute of Democracy (IoD) and Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning (ÖIR). The project aims at diversifying the local economic activities, improving the investment climate, and empowering competitive agricultural and environmental practices in Keda Municipality via bottom-up strategic planning of rural development.

The EU is supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 179.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. The first phase of ENPARD in Georgia focused on developing the potential of agriculture. The second and third phases of ENPARD focus on creating economic opportunities for rural populations that go beyond agricultural activities. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge.